Marpa47

On 1/15/2022 at 10:57 PM, spidermike007 said:

The great and benevolent leader has already insured happiness. Now, he is showing the vast purity of his heart, by allowing the people to celebrate, and have some fun. 

 

He is lowering unemployment.

He is growing the economy.

He is doing everything in his power to open the country up again, and increase tourism revenue.

He is increasing exports.

He is abiding by all of the terms of the ASEAN charters he signed, and allowing the duty free importation of all beer throughout ASEAN. Bintang, Beer Lao, Bia Saigon, Bia Huda, Bia Ha Noi, Dagon, Saigon Special, 333, are on all of the supermarket shelves as we speak. We are not longer subject to the very low quality local beers, as promised in the recent ASEAN charter, that Thailand agreed to and signed. 

 

He is making visa policy easy, simple and streamlined, and all tourists are very happy about that. He is working on the attitudes of government workers, and making sure they are open and friendly to both tourists, and ex-pats.

 

He is improving traffic and public safety.

 

He is working day and night to eliminate the air quality issues, that have become a catastrophe for the nation. 

 

Corruption is being eliminated, and innocent fall guys are no longer getting charged for murder, and being put to death.

 

The taxi mafia on Samui and Phuket have been eliminated, and tourists can now get a taxi at a fair price. They are also adding multiple options of cheap public transportation on the Southern islands. 

 

Life is better for all now that this great man is demonstrating his genius and vision on a daily basis. All he cares about is the welfare of his own people, and the happiness of both tourists and the ex-pat community. He contemplates this day and night.

 

… and don’t forget the eco-friendly aspect of the improved transportation system everywhere.  And the implementation of sustainable energy, development of eco-tourism to preserve the fragile land and sea ecosystems with the employment of local talent with the generations of deep knowledge of and love for the environment and local wildlife to support this ecotourism…. Almost as if borrowing a page from the very successful Central American examples.

On 1/15/2022 at 9:25 PM, sawadee1947 said:

Not Einstein, but once use your common sense. Thailand definetely did not the best to conquer covid by buying that useless stuff from China instead from Moderna or Biontech/Pfizer, maybe imported Astra.

Fooling their citizens about the pandemic is a shame.

 

You gotta know that the 800 pound gorilla in the room, so nearby, with the cheap sinovac and the large stick was most likely far more attractive than the distant and less and less in touch former friendly uncle with the fancy phizer stuff.  Not that there weren’t other ahh considerations.

Happy New Year to all!   Sadly in NYC where I just came from, there are trash receptacles aplenty, yet I see people walking right past them and dumping things on the sidewalk.  This slovenliness is even defended as ‘giving someone who cleans up the streets some work’!  And, yes, in NYC one just invites abuse, (at best!), if one makes any comment.  Trash is only one of the problems in our society.  It would be nice if everyone were assured of good housing, food and medical care with education and a chance of a good job in a safe environment.  

On 1/2/2022 at 6:50 PM, chiman said:

There is so much garbage everywhere I have gone in this country over the last 15 years.  Side of the road, in a field, on the beach.. the way it gets dumped into the environment here is heart breaking.  There is an island of trash floating in the Gulf of Thailand thats many KM long.  Happy to see the reduction of plastic bags at 7 and such, but it would take education and decades of clean up to really turn things around here... 

education may be the key.  If the kids are taught to clean up after themselves, and that it is loss of face to just dump trash around, then maybe they would scold their parents into not doing it also.  That could work.

On 1/2/2022 at 4:32 PM, Stevemercer said:

I remember growing up in Australia in the 1960s and 1970s. People threw rubbish wherever they wanted. But this slowly changed such that by the 1990s it was no longer socially acceptable.

 

When a Thai visitor casually empties the rubbish from their car onto the street I ask whether they would do so if it was Royal property? Who is responsible for their rubbish on public property? 

 

Maybe a campaign saying that littering is like throwing rubbish onto Royal land or land dedicated to Buddha. It is an insult and disgrace to the whole Thai nation.

 

Of course, increasing the number of public rubbish bins would be an excellent start.

 

In Thailand I am often wandering around with a handful of rubbish looking for a public bin. In Australia there are bins everywhere. Mind you, in Australia I am often wandering around looking for an ATM. This is not a problem in Thailand!

 

There was a youtube video awhile back, (maybe a year or two ), by “notimetobesad” Chuck and Page, where he discussed how the town leadership where he lives had finally gotten their act together, started placing garbage cans around and cleaning things up.  So, it takes leadership and organization.  This is a town with annual festivals and a prominent Wat, so there is tourism and occasions when there is a heavy influx of crowds needing to be cleaned up after.  That is also incentive to clean up — having to put on a good face.  Maybe this is what it takes — leadership from the municipalities to take charge and encourage citizens to follow up.

Thank you dear Rooster for another great post.  Always feel the light behind every one.  Keeps me warm for another week.

Hi Rooster, I love your stories.  This one really had a poignant message.  Thank you for ‘baring your soul’.  I might not have the courage to do the same but then again I haven’t been and done all that you have.  Who was it who said that the best way to convey a message is with a story?  Was it Sir Terry PRATCHETT?  All the twists and turns of your life have surely given you some idea of life from some angles not regularly seen in the usual pathways traveled.  I really appreciate the view from the paths less traveled.

Dear Rooster, you said, “For such annoying pettiness, for the complete debacle that has been Thailand’s pandemic response and the utterly shambolic “reopening'' -  all of Prayut and his cronies need to go. ”

It seems that politics here oscillates between extremes.  Are there any brilliant, honest, committed citizens willing to enter the political arena and make the sacrifices to make the necessary changes in spite of all the opposition from all sides that would ensue?  And is the average citizen even willing to follow through with the sacrifices that would have to be made to change generations old habits of thought and action that would make said changes possible?  Maybe being from the USA and having left in disgust at the escalation of seemingly every aspect of what leads to a breakdown of normal decent society, I have too negative a view of life now.  I hope that I am wrong.  But my opinion is that, like the best and brightest in other nearby countries who cannot stand the limitations of overly restrictive societies and have the past fled to more open societies, maybe the same process has happened here as well, leaving a vacuum of leadership.
 

Dear Rooster, you said, “Damning press headlines about the latest clusters and full ICU’s continue. The bars remain shut.”

I said it before and I’ll say it again,  Vitamin D.  Zinc.  

In Scandinavian countries, (and in the past in the USA), vitamin D in ‘fortified’ milk etc… has been a great benefit.  Most city dwellers do not get vitamin D from the sun because they avoid it and stay indoors.  I would gladly see an increase in ‘new COVID’ numbers with zero deaths, a statistic which is of course unobtainable without exquisite marshaling of care for the aged an immune compromised that exists seemingly nowhere.  But if nutrition were not ignored especially in this specific case in preference to expensive, (and profitable) drugs, then maybe the ICU’s wouldn’t be overwhelmed and the healthcare staff would catch a break as well as the rest of us.  

AUA?  As in, “Despite the crash of the Aussie dollar in 1985 I returned to Bangkok mid-year and started at AUA”

Lurgy?  As in “we can’t wait for all this lurgy looniness to end”

OK so I was able to look both up on google.   However.  

before you publish, may I suggest that you run your copy by someone who is other than from the U. K. ?  I love your writing and also look forward with bated breath for the forthcoming fare — only, please let someone clarify these ‘ethnicisms’; or at least provide a glossary?  Although the process of mining Google for traces of meaning is in itself sometimes a rewarding experience for me.  Really I love this weekly post, whether I can always make out what you are going on about or not.  LOL  Safe trip to Pattaya and back, all of you.

Rooster Said:   “In the United States this has morphed into what is known as the “Castle Doctrine” and a related issue known as “stand your ground”.

I have a recent article here from the “Kansas City Star” that might be of interest:

Missouri man who killed two during dispute over firewood won’t be charged. Here’s why

Mike Stunson

Thu, October 14, 2021, 2:16 PM·3 min read

A Missouri man who killed two people following a dispute that began over firewood will not be charged, a grand jury decided Wednesday.

The 22-year-old shooter, whose name was not publicly disclosed, shot and killed Kalob Lawson, 34, and Jonathan Lutz, 44, in February when one of the men approached him with a gun, according to Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.

Because of Missouri’s stand your ground law, the shooter was justified in his actions, Zahnd said. The controversial law was enacted in 2017 and was later amended to include acts of self defense.

“Missouri’s ‘stand your ground’ law means people do not have to retreat before using force to defend themselves if they are in a place they have a right to be,” Zahnd said in a news release. “And while people can never use deadly force merely to protect property, they can use deadly force if they reasonably believe deadly force is necessary to protect themselves against death or serious physical injury.”

The shooting occurred Feb. 10 when Lawson and Lutz were paid $200 to deliver firewood to the 22-year-old man’s father. The son noticed his father was shorted firewood, so he followed the two in his vehicle, the prosecuting attorney said.

When the son caught up to Lawson and Lutz on Highway 9, the drivers in the two vehicles both pulled over. A witness observed the 22-year-old stepping out of his vehicle and saying, “Are you just going to rob my dad?” according to Zahnd.

Lutz and Lawson, the latter of whom was armed with a handgun, then walked toward the 22-year-old. Lawson pointed his gun at the man before he grabbed his own firearm.

The shooter fired multiple times, hitting Lawson in the chest and face and Lutz in the abdomen and shoulder, according to the prosecuting attorney. Lawson, of Kimberling City, died at the scene and Lutz, of Kansas City, died at a hospital.

The 22-year-old man left the scene before calling 911 at his home. He then voluntarily surrendered to sheriff’s deputies, but a grand jury declined to indict him Wednesday.

Kyle Lawson, Kalob’s brother, told WDAF the situation does not make sense to him and that he is not coping well with the grand jury’s decision.

“None of that makes sense and it’s not right. This kid should not walk away free,” Kyle Lawson said.

“I don’t care if my brother didn’t give them any wood or shorted them wood or whatever he did. You don’t get to chase him down with a gun and take justice into your own hands and say ‘Well I felt threatened, so I killed him,’” he added.

Relatives for Lawson and Lutz told KCTV they are speaking with an attorney involving the case. “It’s ridiculous,” said David Lawson, Kalob’s father.

Zahnd called the case “tragic” but noted the grand jury did not find a crime was committed.

Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization in opposition of stand your ground legislation, says 29 states have the laws in effect. The organization states the laws have led to an additional 150 fatal shootings each month in the United States.

“Stand Your Ground laws give people a license to kill, allowing those who shoot others to obtain immunity, even if they started the confrontation and even when they can safely de-escalate the situation by walking away,” Everytown states.

Provide everything and more of expectations and they will come — they couldn’t be stopped!   However, fail to provide and guess what?  Is anyone listening or is complacency / indifference too easy?  Especially if there is no real incentive.  One has to be ‘hungry’ — willing to listen and learn and _then_ take the appropriate action, fail, fall on your face, pick yourself up and try and try again until you’ve got it.  Definitely not the purview of the complacent.  This is the domain of the entrepreneurial spirit.  All The Best dear Kingdom of Thailand.  Wishing well for everyone.  

Thank you, Rooster, for once again providing deep insight with candor and humor.  I am late to reading your article this week.  Perhaps some who have replied in haste may have benefited from waiting a little longer than Sunday morning before opening up the page.  One can only wonder what went on, (or went down the throat), Saturday night, that prevented them from being able to read more than a few sentences before their brain shut down?  I, too, would relish an article twice as long.   But I also have so much to learn about this land.  And all these insights and observations are just so fascinating to me.

What is an app for hailing a cab in Bangkok?

On 9/26/2021 at 2:04 PM, BadSpottedDog said:

Apparently, no one is paying attention to the Evergrande situation in China. "Some people" need to keep their eyes open.
https://nypost.com/2021/09/22/evergrande-collapse-could-be-worse-than-lehman-for-china/

Ditto the price of wine as affected by rumors of legislation.  It has been stated elsewhere in the news that “shipping costs have skyrocketed” of late.

Thank you dear Rooster for another Thailand update, in depth and outside the box.  And, by the way, as in the USA TV series “Barney Miller” of many years past, “keeping a good thought” for your raise, (or rise).

The image I have is of a lady, long accustomed to her spouse, now deceased, looking after all the financial affairs.  Now, she is not only helpless, but also victimized by circumstance.  Not a scheming, evil person but an innocent victim.  What if RTP or IB took a different approach and, instead of posting their pseudo-heroic capture of someone flouting the rules?  Wouldn’t a sentimental story of the persons in authority, pooling their resources and helping the poor bewildered lady to find the wherewithal to navigate the complexities of the system and stay evoke an image of the authorities, not only in a good light but even, dare I say it, a more heroic one, one even more worthy of admiration?  Not only opportunity for a really great photo op lost but a chance to burnish the “protect and serve” motto.

Thanks for another great read.  One of the highlights of my week.  

Thanks for the delightful updates and tales.  It was not the long a read that others have described, in fact was over too soon.

20 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

So you’re having trouble finding Biden’s speeches? Are you commenting on a speech you didn’t listen to thoroughly?  Is everyone who contradicts your conclusions wrong?  Maybe the problem is in your attention span and ability to comprehend. Biden did indeed reach and inspire a lot of people, perhaps everyone but you. Biden has an actual speech impediment resulting from a stutter as a child. Most of us know and understand that. Most of us understand that his “gaffes” are exactly that, no more, no less. Are you one of those who ridiculed the stuttering kids in school? Called them bubbling idiots did you? There are no perfect leaders. Most will commit blunders from time to time. The war in Afghanistan was always a mess, and was always doomed. I think everyone finds these events disturbing. But There could never be a clean exit. The commitment to withdraw was made by Trump. A president’s decisions are only as good as the advice on which they are based, and you can point to the military brass on that. The heart breaking results of war are unpredictable but inevitable. Biden has in fact given a great number of good speeches, well received by the majority of people. You are in the minority. I presume that you would prefer to listen to Trump then. 

It has come to light in the past day or so that in addition to the tragedy taking place among the victims of the lightning takeover there, the stage was set in the US for increased suffering at the hands of previous administrations’s very calculated eviscerating of the special visa plan that had been put in place in the administration before that. (Another case of undoing something noble and good out of monstrous spite).  

“Finally, my blues - and I’m sure those of many on the forum - were lifted by the actions of a brilliant former hotel maid in Buriram who stepped up to the plate when others were wavering to give CPR to a six year old boy and save his life after he looked dead from drowning. 
 
Well done to 53 year old Sommart Nimmit who had learned the rudiments of rescue in Norway on a course. The video was heartwarming.
 
You saved my week not to mention that little guy’s life.
 
You’re a legend.”

Thank you Rooster for keeping us in the loop.  You are always able to come across with a refreshing twist on the events ‘at home and abroad’.  Too bad the news does not cooperate with something a bit on the lighter side.  Too much of the other stuff for me.  Thanks for finding and focusing on the bright spot in the world when it appears.  And thanks for doing all this in spite of the all too many “slings and arrows”.

Thanks for your always rewarding articles.  As always, loving the personal touch, the thing that makes this news column so interesting as well as so vulnerable.  Very Well Done!!!